June 07, 2021 // Franchising.com // GREENBELT, Md. - The Board of Directors of ZIPS Dry Cleaners® announced today that it has appointed Bob Barry as President/CEO of the network of one-low-price dry-cleaning stores, effective immediately. He succeeds Drew Ritger, who held the role for the past three and a half years and has accepted a position with a midwestern chain of gourmet coffee restaurants.
Barry has been a member of the ZIPS board of directors for the past eight years and he will retain that position. He has also served on the boards of the American Heart Association and the Restaurant Association of Maryland. He spent 12 years as President/CEO of The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille, growing that chain from just a handful of locations to nearly 50 full-service franchised and company-owned restaurants. Prior to The Greene Turtle, he spent nine years as President/CEO of Ms. Desserts/The Great Cookie Ltd., a retail, mobile and e-commerce baked goods business, and worked for Marriott Corp. and W.R. Grace & Co. More recently, he has been an investor in and advisor for several companies, including: Truvelop, a talent transformation company specializing in team member evaluation and development; Lost Ark Distilling Co., a Maryland-based artisanal distillery; and Columbia Treatment Center, a rehab facility supporting individuals confronted by substance use and mental health issues.
“We are thrilled to have Bob step up to the helm of our organization,” said Jim Bolduc, ZIPS’ board chairman. “He is a proven leader and strategic business developer who has been a valued and respected member of our board for almost a decade. We look forward to leveraging his experience in the restaurant/hospitality field and his many connections, especially throughout our Maryland/DC base. With Bob’s leadership, ZIPS will emerge from the pandemic strong and with a bright future.”
Barry will concentrate on guiding ZIPS successfully out of the pandemic and expanding the brand’s footprint by increasing unit profitability, innovating and rolling out new programs to broaden the concept’s menu of services (including both consumer and commercial business), developing fill-in strategies for existing markets and determining penetration strategies for new markets.
“I’m honored to lead ZIPS into its next chapter, capitalizing on the many assets that were put in place before the world closed down,” Barry said. “As consumers start returning to the workplace and attending events and experiences, ZIPS will be there to ensure they look their best without impacting their schedules or their wallets. As we open more locations, our convenient same-day, cost-efficient service will become available to even more customers who appreciate quality, cost savings and convenience.”
SOURCE ZIPS Dry Cleaners®
Founded in 1996 and franchising since 2006, ZIPS Cleaners is a dry cleaning franchise known for its same-day, one-price business.